Management of Smart Electricity GridsA dashboard to monitor and control power in a way of the future.

Final Year Design Project by: Jatin Pherwani (Final Year B.Des)Guided by Prof. Pradeep Yammiyavar (Head, CET, IIT Guwahati)

Aim : this project is to allow efficient management of smart electricity grids.

smart grids =

distributed generation

efficient distribution

intelligent

secure

Problem ?How do we know what occurs within the grid ?

Answers lie in the Data Visualizations of an immense amount of data produced by an established network of information in the electricity grids.

1. Design of Dynamic Infographs

What do we do once the events in a grid are visible ?

We take decisions and actions to make sure the grid remains healthy and those bulbs in each of our homes keep shining.

2. Design of Dashboard

Objectives• To study the smart electricity grid phenomena holistically.

• Perform a thorough need analysis at the management end of the grid network

• Visualize the data generated from the use of smart grid (by making comprehensible dynamic info graphs)

• Design a wholesome dashboard which can assist easy and quick decision making.

• Test the proposed concept with the users in their work environment.

• Explore new visualization mediums to depict the same information.

Methodology2. User requirement analysis

2.1 Workstation observations2.2 Contextual Interviews 2.3 Task analysis and Card sorting2.4 User personas2.5 Use case scenarios

1. Background Study and Secondary research 1.1 Literature Review1.2 Subject Matter Expert (SME) interviews

3. Design3.1 Data gathering / analysis 3.2 Ideate visualizations3.3 Prototype concepts3.4 Wireframe dashboard structure.

4. Evaluate3.1 System Usability Scale3.2 Eye Tracking3.3 Task Performance Analysis

SME Interviews

1. Assistant professor (Dr.) Praveen Kumar at the Dept. of Electrical Engineering IIT Guwahati. Many observations were made, a few proved to be very insightful in the further design.

2. Mr. H.C. Phukan, Chief General Manager at the State Load Dispatch Center(SLDC), Kahilipara Assam.

Workstation ObservationsThe field visits covered observation sessions at the users actual workplace, in our case being the State Load Dispatch center, Kahilipara in Guwahati, Assam. The center is one of the 18 present in the entire nation and is responsible for all electricity transmission, distribution and electric grid related regulations of the North-East Grid, one of the 5 major grids of the country.

Contextual InterviewsMr. Jatinder Baishya is the Assistant General Manager at the Load Dispatch division in SLDC Assam. Other than holding a bachelors degree in electrical engineering, he has had a 3 month training for handling SCADA systems used in huge electrical networks. Most of his days at the office are busy, however he agreed to give us a couple of appointments to discuss the his role in the management of the electricity grids in the state.

Present Visualizations and DashboardsLine Diagrams : These are reduced versions of the electricity grid’s physical components like transmission lines,transformers, substations and power stations. All information is mediated by SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)

Import – Export Power Tables : The column charts depict the state of generation and supply of power to various end points.

Present Visualizations and DashboardsFrequency Regulation : The grid at any point has a specific frequency at which the power is being generated and injected into it. This is the average of generating frequencies of all the power stations in the grid.

Data Charts and Archives : The power distribution authorities have a set of protocols, which every grid managing organization must follow.

A few Consolidated Insights.Abstraction of Line diagrams : Looking at so much of coded information, taking a decisions in a quick glance is difficult for the engineers. The overlapping of lines and excess chart junk present in these diagrams, increase the cognitive workload of the users resulting in errors and taking more time to act on a situation.

Visualizing the Input Output Table : The scheduling of load dispatch occurs viewing at this table, certainly it can help in a better decision making, if backed with a comprehensive visualization.

Monitoring Frequency at power station Levels : Where the overall state of a grid is represented by the average frequency, at generation levels it has huge variations which may be depicted by visualizations.

Instant Scheduling and load shedding : Allowing engineers and managers to schedule loads for coming time and force load shedding when required.

Integrated Communication system for smooth operations : An instant communication system between the RLDCs, NLDCs and substations shall keep everyone on the same table.

Inclusion of archives and protocols often used : All decisions pertaining to load shedding and scheduling are supported by written documents and protocols which are often referred. Also used are previous archives of grid behavior and short term load forecasting (STLF) files.

Concepts (Data Visualization)

Concepts (Dashboard Design)

.

Scheduling for Merit Order Dispatch.Regulating Generation Load Balance.Schedule for Central Sector Drawl & Regulate it.Load Shedding implementation.

Schedule

Communicate Coordination with RLDC and other constituentsSend notices to substations and public

MonitorMaintaining system frequency in 49.0Hz to 50.5Hz. Unscheduled Interchangeability Rate

Archiving and ReferralRestoration procedure planning and implementation.Monitor bilateral power supply agreement.Demand Estimation for operational purpose.

1. Monitor bilateral power supply agreement.2. Scheduling for Merit Order Dispatch.3. Restoration procedure planning and implementation.4. Coordination with RLDC and other constituents5. Maintaining system frequency in 49.0Hz to 50.5Hz. 6. Regulating Generation Load Balance.7. Schedule for Central Sector Drawl & Regulate it.8. Load Shedding implementation.9. Send notices to substations and public10. Demand Estimation for operational purpose. 11. Unscheduled Interchangeability Rate.

Insights from Task Analysis

Use Case scenario

Looking at the system status.

Notices exception in power consumption

Look at the Archives Load Shed Allot more power

Methodology2. User requirement analysis

2.1 Workstation observations2.2 Contextual Interviews 2.3 Task analysis and Card sorting2.4 User personas2.5 Use case scenarios

1. Background Study and Secondary research 1.1 Literature Review1.2 Subject Matter Expert (SME) interviews

3. Design3.1 Data gathering / analysis 3.2 Ideate visualizations3.3 Prototype concepts3.4 Wireframe dashboard structure.

4. Evaluate3.1 System Usability Scale3.2 Eye Tracking3.3 Task Performance Analysis

Acknowledgements

I express my sincere gratitude to the following people and authorities for their cooperation in my project’s field study and expert consultation.

• Assistant professor (Dr.) Praveen Kumar (Dept. of Electrical Engineering IIT Guwahati).

• The Assam State Electricity Board ASEB substation (IIT Gate). • Engineers at State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC), Assam. • Mr. H.C. Phukan, Chief General Manager(SLDC) Mr. Jatinder Baishya,

Assistant General Manager(LDC) • Mr. Abhishek Singh, my classmate for his help in prototyping

References• U.S. Department of Energy. "Smart Grid / Department of Energy". Retrieved August 20, 2013. • Jump up "Smart Grids European Technology Platform | www.smartgrids.eu". smartgrids.eu. 2011 [last update]≤.

Retrieved August 11, 2013. • Visualizing the Electric Grid BY THOMAS J . OVERBYE University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign & JAMES D.

WEBER PowerWorld Corp. • Smart Grid Analytics Aaron DeYonker VP of Products @ eMeter, a Siemens Business • LiveData SmartGrid Manager report Exploring the imperative of revitalizing America’s electric infrastructure. (prepared

for the U.S. Department of Energy by Litos Strategic Communication under contract No. DE-AC26-04NT41817, Subtask 560.01.04)

• Visualizing Energy Resources Dynamically on Earth Arjun Shankar1, PhD John Stovall2, Steve Fernandez1, RanganSukumar1, Alex Sorokine1, and Femi Omitaomu1 1Computational Sciences; 2Energy Sciences Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Thank You.